California

Two sisters are actively involved in the Primary School setting.

One as Principal in St. Anthony Indian School, Zuni New Mexico with a school population of 120.

The other as Chaplain in St. Columban School, Garden Grove with a student population of 350.

While many of our sisters are accompanying lay people in their spiritual journey, we also have one sister who is actively involved in ongoing Spiritual Direction on a permanent basis.

Another sister is Director of RCIA in Garden Grove which incorporates the Vietnamese, Hispanic and Anglo communities.

This process brings in approximately forty newly baptized adults yearly.

Many of our sisters are involved indirectly by prayer and by helping others who are directly involved in this ministry. This involvement has now been extended to our Associates as well as our Social Justice Team in Garden Grove. We are working with and have co-ordinated resources with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange.

Many of our retired sisters are involved in the very special privilege of Prayer and Presence.

The Sister’s daily prayer focuses especially on victims of human trafficking, on prisoners, and on our immigrant brothers and sisters who are being exploited. They also are engaged in writing to our government officials on social justice issues especially our Care for God’s Creation.

Collectively, we have implemented a Care of the Earth plan in response to Pope Francis’ call to action in Laudato Si:  “The earth cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her.”

As a region we have committed to simple living, eliminating single-use plastic, water conservation, and other actions summarized in our plan. We have also engaged our associate members as well as the schoolchildren in our schools in this important endeavour.

One of the sisters in the Region is an elementary School Chaplain. She gives Spiritual Direction/Counseling to students, parents and staff alike.

She also gives retreats to each grade in the school as well as prepares those who wish to receive the sacraments. Sister also integrates the mission of the congregation into her Social Justice Committee, especially in the area of Social Outreach to the needy, Care for the Earth and Human Trafficking education.

One sister works full-time at a homeless youth shelter in Hollywood for youth between the ages of 18-25 years of age. Covenant House California provides a full continuum of services to meet the physical, vocational and spiritual well-being of young people, in order to provide them with the best chance for success in independence.

This sister distributes food to some of the homeless living on Skid row and reaches out to young families with children to offer them supplies and support.

Another Sister has a Saturday morning Homeless Ministry in the Garden Grove area where people receive a hot meal, toiletries, haircuts and showers.

A sister also supports children who are trafficked and abandoned at an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico

In our Convent on Huron Ave, food is distributed on a weekly basis to those in need.